includes the “New” variants that have upgraded hardware

Nintendo's successor to it's smash hit, the Nintendo DS. Despite not selling nearly as well as the DS, the 3DS held it's own and firmly beat off any competition in Sony's PlayStation Vita. Preserving the “two screen, bottom is touch” gimmick of the DS, the 3DS introduces a “Stereoscopic 3D” gimmick in the top screen, which never really took off in any significant capacity. However, it's mere status as a Nintendo handheld assured that it would sell plenty of units, which it did at 75 million sold. For specifications, the 3DS is certainly capable, containing a 320×240 and 800×240 screen (top), 2 ARM CPUs (one dual core), 128 MB of RAM with 6 MB VRAM, and 2 GB of internal storage. With the release of the “New” series that served as a hardware refresh, the 3DS upgraded to a quad core ARM CPU, 256 MB of RAM with 10 MB VRAM, and oddly a 1 GB reduction in internal storage. Because of this, the “New” 3DS models possess superior capability for EOPs across the board, except maybe for Linux due to asymmetrical porting efforts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Nintendo_3DS

arch-install-scripts installed

Not much is spoken of this port, but it is the Arch Linux ARM branch running on the 3DS. Some claim to have gotten Weston working in here.

https://github.com/mozl3/sd-linux-3ds/wiki/Installing-ALARM

https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/muwbmf/archlinux_on_3ds/

Macintosh II emulation on the o3ds is SLOW, especially in 256colors

The port of Mini vMac to the 3DS, which unsurprisingly runs the original operating system for these older mac computers. It works on the old 3DS, but the “New” 3DS systems will fare much better with this software.

https://github.com/TaraHoleInIt/minivmac-3ds

https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/Mini_vMac_3DS

https://web.archive.org/web/20220916182207/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3PkjTK8ebY

https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Emulators_on_3DS

https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/List_of_3DS_homebrew_emulators

Whether these emulators support operating systems for these consoles is unknown; it must be looked into further. Consoles without meaningful OSes are not included.

3DO Comp. 3DO - rarch-u

Atari 2600 – rarch-u, ult-emu, Z26

Atari Lynx – Handy 3DS, rarch-u

Bandai WonderSwan (Color) - rarch

NEC TurboGrafx-16 – rarch, ult-emu, TemperPCE

Nintendo 64 – DaedalusX64, CTR64, ult-emu

Nintendo DS (???) - 3DeSmume

Nintendo Entertainment System – FCEUMM3DS, VirtuaNES, rarch, ult-emu

Super Nintendo Entertainment System – OldSNES, 3DNES, BlargSnes, SNES9x, rarch, ult-emu

Nintendo Game Boy (Color) – Cinoop 3DS, MGBA, GameYob, rarch, ult-emu

Nintendo Game Boy Advance – GBARunner2, MGBA, rarch, ult-emu

Nintendo Pokémon Mini – PokeMini 3DS

Nintendo Virtual Boy – r3Ddragon, rarch

Sega Genesis – Picodrive, rarch, ult-emu

Sega Master System – 3DSSMS, Picodrive, rarch, ult-emu

Sega Saturn - rarch-u

Sony PlayStation 1 – CTRX, rarch

Plus whatever works on DS for the most part

debootstrap installed

Similarly to the Arch Linux port, not much is said about this, but it does exist. Some people have gotten Vim working on this distro.

https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/muwbmf/archlinux_on_3ds/

This device runs an operating system which is known to emulate various devices with EOPs. See the AmigaOS, Classic Mac OS, DOS, and NEC PC-9801 series pages.

The combined efforts for putting the Linux kernel onto the 3DS. Things are still active, and it looks as if the port has been mainlined in about September of 2020. Some recent material is implying that this ONLY works on the old 3DS! Others, however, imply it’s just untested on the “New”.

https://github.com/linux-3ds

https://github.com/linux-3ds/linux/wiki

https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/Linux_for_3DS

https://github.com/mozl3/sd-linux-3ds/wiki/Requirements

https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/it6awe/update_3ds_linux_port_updated_to_590rc5/

Whether these emulators support operating systems for these computers is unknown; it must be looked into further. PCs without meaningful OSes are not included.

https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Emulators_on_3DS

https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/List_of_3DS_homebrew_emulators

Atari 8-bits – atari800-3DS, rarch

CC-800 Pocket Dictionary – Sim800

CHIP-8 – CHIP83DS/2DS, 3DS-Chip8, Chip8-CTRU, CHIP-3DS, ult-emu

Commodore 64 – VICE, Bread Box

Commodore 128 – VICE3DS-C128

Commodore Amigas - uae3DS

NEC PC-9801s – NP2/21 3DS

PICO-8 - Fake-08

Sinclair ZX Spectrums – ZXDS 3DS, ZX Spectrum EMU, rarch-u

TIC-80 – TIC-80 git

Uzebox – cuzebox3DS

x86 – 3DOS 3DS

plus more retroarch cores

Plus whatever works on DS for the most part

The Nintendo 3DS does not have a flashing method; the bootloader is loaded from the SD card

One of the various Linux ports available for the Nintendo 3DS. Unsurprisingly, it takes advantage of existing work done by other developers. It may run on both versions of the 3DS, but as always, this will run best on the “New” versions.

https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS_(nintendo-ctr)

The original OS of the Nintendo 3DS, and a nice one at that. Plenty of little gimmicky apps are available. Definitely has tones of the Wii U and Wii.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqhkxBc71WA

If you decide to use Windows 98, I recommend using a build of 98lite Professional if you can

This appears to only work on the “New” 3DS systems! While this port appears to have no virtual keyboard just yet, there has been success in running various Windows versions within the 3DS’ version of DOSBox.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/windows-on-the-new-3ds.407756/

https://old.reddit.com/r/3DS/comments/mtgbqo/windows_31_running_on_dosbox_emulator/

The 3DS Internet Browser is Netfront Browser NX v1.0 based on WebKit engine

The only meaningful browser available for the 3DS. The “New” variant introduced a more powerful browser.

https://www.3dbrew.org/wiki/Internet_Browser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bYaY1byEqA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Browser_(Nintendo_3DS)

For general information, see the Game Console Revisions Overview.

There are six versions of this console, arranged chronologically.

The original version of the 3DS. Easily identified by it's smaller clamshell form factor, lack of a 2nd analogue stick, non-colored ABXY buttons, and slightly more “ridged” outer shell. With the later arrival of so many varying 3DS models, the original 3DS has somewhat lost it's position of relevance when compared to these later models. The only two things which may give the original 3DS an edge is that these systems have a superior port of Linux (at least, for right now), and that two particular games (Metal Gear Solid 3D, Resident Evil Revelations) will work better on a OG 3DS/3DS XL + Circle Pad over the “New” 3DS and it's built-in 2nd stick.

The original XL version of the 3DS. Easily identified by it's larger clamshell form factor, lack of a 2nd analogue stick, and the start/select/home buttons being obvious rectangles under the bottom screen. Outside of the larger form factor and minor button changes, the status of the original 3DS XL is essentially the same as the non-XL original 3DS, although the OG XL does have a slightly longer battery life.

LOWEST PRICE

Nintendo's first foray in removing the 3D. Very easily identified by it's “slate” form factor which does not close, plus the lack of a 3D slider. Outside of it's very odd form factor and lack of 3D, the 2DS also has removed the stereo speakers found on the OG 3DS systems, bringing the 2DS sound output to only mono without headphones. Furthermore, battery life is somehow slightly longer, and sleep mode is instead activated by a switch. Lastly, the Circle Pad Pro will obviously not work on these systems, making these really only matter in the realm of budget, as the OG 2DS is easily the cheapest 3DS on the 2nd hand market.

RECOMMENDED OVERALL

Nintendo's first foray in making “Pro” refreshes of their systems. Oddly, in Japan, the XL released a few days before the non-XL “New” 3DS. Easily identified by it's larger form factor, colored ABXY buttons, presence of a 2nd analogue stick, camera located above the top screen, home button below the bottom screen, and presence of a 3D slider. Improvements coming with this model are very fully fledged, including a 2nd analogue stick, integrated NFC, faster CPU, more RAM, better 3D capabilities + head tracking, a small library of exclusive-to-“New” games, ZL and ZR buttons, automatic brightness adjustments, and more. These are essentially the best version of the 3DS when it comes to raw power and features, with their only downside being a somewhat higher price on the 2nd hand market.

Very similar to the XL version of the “New” 3DS. Can be identified by it's smaller form factor, 3D slider, and presence of a 2nd analogue stick. The only major differences between the XL and non-XL “New” 3DSes, is that the non-XL has interchangeable faceplates, plus it's a tiny bit larger (both in screens and form factor) than the OG non-XL 3DS systems. This makes the non-XL “New” essentially the same console as the XL “New”, except it's smaller and more personable. Alas, the non-XL “New” does have one downside in that it is easily the most expensive of all the 3DS models out there, due to it's relative unpopularity in much of the world compared to the XLs.

Somewhat between the “New” 3DSes and the original 2DS in capabilities. Easily identified by the non-slate clamshell design, the camera being in between the two screens, the home button being to the bottom left of the bottom screen, the lack of a 3D slider, and slightly “rounded” top and bottom halves of the system. Most of the changes between the “New” 3DS and “New” 2DS are downgrades, as the “New” 2DS has poorer screen quality, less powerful speakers, and a slightly cheaper feel and function all around. Of course, with the “New” 2DS being a budget-oriented console, this comes as no surprise. Luckily, the “New” 2DS does retain a bit of this “budget” nature in the 2nd hand market nowadays, with most “New” 2DS consoles being a good 15% cheaper than their 3DS equivalents.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_2DS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Nintendo_3DS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Nintendo_2DS_XL

https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-has-seemingly-discontinued-the-original-3ds/